The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1371232
46 THE WOLVERINE JUNE/JULY 2021 BY AUSTIN FOX M ichigan's football program saw at least eight players chosen in this year's NFL Draft for just the seventh time in school history (the event has existed since 1936), putting the 2021 U-M draft haul in some elite com- pany. Of the seven biggest classes ever at Michigan, three have occurred with head coach Jim Harbaugh at the helm — in 2017 (11 players chosen), 2020 (10) and 2021 (eight). Defensive end Kwity Paye was the lone first-rounder of this year 's group, coming off the board when the Indianapolis Colts selected him with the 21st overall pick. After a bit of a lull in the second round that didn't see any Wolver- ines taken, the action picked up once again in the third round. Three U-M athletes were chosen during the stanza, with offensive lineman Jalen Mayfield leading the way (No. 68 overall to the Atlanta Falcons) and wideout Nico Collins going 21 spots later at No. 89 to the Houston Texans. Michigan In The 2021 NFL Draft Pos. Name Round Overall Pick Team DE Kwity Paye 1 21 Indianapolis Colts OL Jalen Mayfield 3 68 Atlanta Falcons WR Nico Collins 3 89 Houston Texans CB Ambry Thomas 3 102 San Francisco 49ers LB Cameron McGrone 5 177 New England Patriots FB Ben Mason 5 184 Baltimore Ravens RB Chris Evans 6 202 Cincinnati Bengals LS Camaron Cheeseman 6 225 Washington Football Team Undrafted free agent signings: DL Carlo Kemp, Green Bay Packers; TE Nick Eubanks, Dallas Cowboys ANOTHER LOADED DRAFT CLASS Michigan's 2021 Haul Is Among The Biggest The School Has Ever Seen Kwity Paye — pictured alongside Colts head coach Frank Reich (left) and general manager Chris Ballard (right) — became just the sixth Michigan edge rusher to be selected in the first round, going No. 21 overall to the Indianapolis Colts. PHOTO COURTESY INDIANAPOLIS COLTS